Level



June 23, 1925. 1,543,376

f v o. L. FITCH f LEVEL Filed April 12, 1924 351# v l v Patented June 23, y1925.

UNITEDv STA-TES PATENT OFFICE.

Y omi` L, FITCH, orroINT MARION, PENNSYLVANIA.

LEVEL.

Application led pril 1.2, 1924. Serial No. 706,128.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ORA Il. FITCH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Point Marion, in the county of Fayette and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Level, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in levels which are 'principally adapted for use in connection with determining the angularity or inclination of a level with respect to a horizontal plane.

One of the important objects of the pres-y ent invention is to provide a level of the above mentioned character, which' will enable a person to accurately ,ascertain the level of a wall or other object onwhich the device is positioned.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a level of the above mentioned character, which is of' such'a construction as to enable the reading of the same to be visible from both sides of the stock of the level. f v Y A still further object of the present in-I vention is to provide a level of the above mentioned character, wherein means is associated with the pendulum supporting means whereby the same is adapted for lateral adjustment. y A

Aifurther object of the present invention is to provide a level of the above mentioned character, which is simple in construction, inexpensive, strong and durable andl furthermore adapted forL the purposes for which it is designed. f 'l p Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing'forming a part of this specification andin which' like numerals designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of my level, and

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken approximately on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

In the drawing wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown the preferred em- ^bodiment of my invention, the numeral 1 designates the stock which is formed of wood andthe same is preferably rectangular in design. The stock 1 is further provided with a central circular opening which extends transversely therethrough and is indicated by the numeral 2 in the drawing. The

edge of the circular opening 2 is substan-f tially of inverted V-shape in cross section in the manner clearly villustrated in Figure 2 of th'edrawing. The purpose of this construction will hereinafter be more fully described.v

`Adapted to be secured in any suitable manner on the lower portion of the inverted Vshaped edge of the circular opening 2 is the invertedV-shaped segmental member 4, the same fitting snugly on the inverted V- shapededge 3 in the manner clearly illustratedV in Figure 2 of the drawing. The segmental member 4 is provided with graduations on'itsV outer side in thev manner shown in Figure 1 so as to render the level readable from both sides of the stock. Securedto the opposite sides of the stock 1 above the central opening 2 are the upper H portions of the plates 5 and 6 respectively. The plates are preferably' setin the upper portionsof the sides of the stock by mortieing out thel upper portion of the respective sidesof the stock. ,Any suitable fastening means such as Ais shown at 7 is provided for supporting the upper'portions of the plates in the mortifced portions of the opposite sides of the stock. The lower portions of the plates and 6 extend downwardly adjacent the central opening 2 and adapted to be pivotally supported between the lower ends of the plates'5 and 6 respectively and disposed within the central opening 2 is the,

pendulum designated generally by the nu-l meral 8. i f

The pendulum 8 hasthe laterally extending member 9 formed on the upper end thereof whichl provides a means for pivotally supporting the pendulum between the lower ends of the plates and thel pendulum 8 furthermore has provided on its lower end the weight 10 from which extends the forked or bifurcated portions 11 and 12 respectively. This arrangement provides a means whereby the forked portions extend over the converging edge of the segmental member and each fork provides a pointer or indicator in connection with the graduations provided on the inverted V-shaped member in the manner clearly illustrated in the drawing. It is of course to be understood that the inner opposed faces of the lower ends of the plates 5 and 6 are provided with suitable cavities or recesses for receiving the ends of the lateral extension 9 whereby the pendulum may be properly supported by vided with an internally threaded bore,

while the lug 14 is provided with a longitudinally extending opening through which is adapted to extend the bolt 15. rlhe inner end of the bolt 15 is threaded into the threaded recess provided in the lug 13 while the head of the bolt engages the outer face of the side plate 6 in the manner clearly illustrated in Figure 2. The purpose of the lugs and the securing bolt 1,5 is to provide a means whereby the plates may be :adj usted so as to properly-support the lateral extension 9 of the pendulum 8 and thus hold the pendulum in an operative position and against accidental displacement from -between the plates.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, that a level has been provided which .may be used for determining the angularity or inclination of a level with respect to a horizontal plane and will further be accurate and positive in its use. The provision of la level of this character enables the same to be manufactured at a very low cost, the parts being further arranged as .to permit the same to be readily disassembled whenever necessary and thus further provides a means whereby the leve-l may be read from either side of the stock. The parts further provided are of such a construction as not to be easily broken or to be rendered inoperative should the level be dropped accidentally or struck.

1While I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes in the size, shape and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from thek spirit of the invention and the scope 'of the appended claims. Y Y

Hav-ing thus described my invention, what I claim is Y 1. A level comprising a stock having a central circular opening, a segmental member supported in the lower portion of said opening, said segmental member being substantially of inverted V-shape in cross section and having graduations on the outer faces thereof, a pair Aof plates secured on opposite sides of the stool; and `arranged adjacent said opening, a weighted pendulum .pivoted at its upper end between the lower ends of said plates and extending downwardly in said opening, the lower end of the pendulum being bifurcated to cooperate with the graduation on the segmental member, means associated `with said plates for holding the same in adjusted position, said means comprising a pair of aligned cooperating lugs extending inwardly Vfrom said plates respectively adjacent the lower ends thereof, andy a bolt extending through one of said plates and -an openingl provided in the lug carried thereby and threaded into thelug carried by the 'opposite plate.

2. A level off Ithe class described comprising a stock having a central transverse opening provided therein, the edge of said opening being substantially of inverted V-shape in cross section, a segmental member of inverted V-shape in cross section supported on the lower` portion of thev inverted V-shaped edge of the opening, said segmental member' having gra'dnationsprovided on the `outer faces thereof, a pair lof plates secured at their upper ends 'on theV opposite sides of the stock, said plates extending downwardly adjacent said opening, a pendulum pivotally supported at its upper end between the lower ends of said plates, the lower end of said penduhn'n having a weight associated therewith, a pair'of indicators 'arranged on the lower end of 'said kpendulum and cooperating with the inverted V-sh'aped segmental member, and means for holding said plate's in vadjusted position, 'said means comprising a pair of aligned cooperating lugs extending inwardly *fromV the plates respectively adjacent the lower ends thereof, and a bolt extending through one of the plates and an vopening provided in the lugcarr'ied thereby, said bolts being threaded into the lug carried by the opposite platei y In testimony whereof I `affix my signature.

ORA L. FITCH. 

